Daniel Juncadella and Mathys Jaubert have joined the Genesis World Endurance Championship line-up for subsequent yr within the second wave of signings by the Hypercar newcomer.
The brand new additions observe the announcement of Andre Lotterer and Pipo Derani as the primary Genesis Magma Racing drivers on the launch of the South Korean producer’s entry into the highest class of the WEC late final yr.
Juncadella and Jaubert are shifting up from Genesis’s trajectory programme within the LMP2 class of this yr’s European Le Mans Collection, which was devised to coach personnel together with drivers for the WEC entry.
It stays unclear whether or not they may have full-time race seats within the pair of GMR-001 LMDhs or simply contest the lengthy races, the Le Mans 24 Hours included.
Within the face of hypothesis that Genesis will go into its maiden season within the WEC with two common drivers per automobile, Genesis declined to supply clarification when contacted by Motorsport.com.
Stoffel Vandoorne, who’s leaving Peugeot’s Hypercar squad after this month’s Fuji spherical, seems to be nailed in for a seat at Genesis, whereas Alpine driver Paul-Loup Chatin seems set for a berth in its line-up.
Juncadella will get his first top-class prototype drive on the age of 34 after 9 seasons within the DTM in 2013-21, first with Mercedes after which Aston Martin.
Daniel Juncadella, Genesis Magma Racing
Photograph by: Genesis
The Spaniard has intensive sportscar expertise with Mercedes within the GT3 ranks, successful the 2022 GT World Problem Europe Endurance Cup title with the Auto Sport Promotion group, and now Chevrolet.
He moved into prototypes this yr within the Genesis-branded ORECA-Gibson 07 run by the IDEC Sport squad within the ELMS when ex-Method 1 driver Logan Sargeant stood down from the trajectory programme forward of the season.
Juncadella, Jaubert and Jamie Chadwick have gained two of 5 ELMS races to date this yr and have been the primary common P2 automobile house behind the race-winning LMP2 pro-am entry on the season-opener at Barcelona.
After victory at Silverstone final weekend, they lie solely six factors off the championship lead going into the sequence finale at Portimao in October.
Jaubert, 20, was picked up for the trajectory programme after ending second in final yr’s French Porsche Carrera Cup.
“The goal for the trajectory programme was at all times to help drivers and provides them the chance to show they may step as much as our WEC line-up,” stated GMR group principal Cyril Abiteboul.
“That we’re already able the place we will convey Mathys and Dani in for 2026 is an enormous credit score to them.”
Mathys Jaubert, Genesis Magma Racing
Photograph by: Genesis
Juncadella said that it has been his objective to maneuver up into Hypercar after racing within the WEC for the previous two years aboard a Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R run by TF Sport.
“I’ve been racing for the final two years in WEC within the LMGT3 class, so it suits nicely for me to step up in a championship that I do know very nicely,” he stated.
“It’s excellent as nicely to do it with GMR, to be ranging from scratch with a model that may hopefully be within the championship for a few years.”
Jaubert described the transfer “as a giant step in my profession”.
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Juncadella and Jaubert will drive the GMR-001 for the primary time imminently, Genesis stated.
The automobile undertook its maiden runs at Paul Ricard with Lotterer and Derani in August.
Chadwick will stay a part of the trajectory programme and particulars of her plans for 2026 will likely be introduced at a later date.
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